Gerontology

The gerontology major has a strong liberal arts focus that includes an applied perspective. With this degree, you can successfully apply for admission to graduate school or enter aging-related work fields. To maximize these opportunities, the faculty encourages you to get as involved as you can in all facets of the curriculum: academics, internship(s), and research. It is Miami's responsibility to provide you with opportunities and your responsibility to take advantage of these opportunities. A comprehensive undergraduate gerontology education places you at a competitive advantage in the job market, graduate school admissions, and career success and satisfaction.

Upon graduating from Miami University with a degree in gerontology, you will be able to evaluate:

policy, programs and action in the field of aging

the quality of information and engage in the process of discovery

theoretical perspectives in the study of aging

the role of social institutions (e.g., family, politics and government, work and economics, social and health policy)

the impact of social location (e.g., race, class, gender, age) over the life course

how aging and the life course are socially constructed and contextual across time, place and culture (e.g., cross-culturally, internationally)

individual processes in the aging experience

the unique knowledge, skills and competencies of a gerontologist

We encourage students who are interested in adding a gerontology major to their existing major (e.g., accounting, business, family studies/social work, nursing, speech pathology/audiology) to include a relevant, aging-related course from their first major to accumulate the required 38 credit hours for the gerontology major.

Department of Sociology and Gerontology

The mission of the Department of Sociology and Gerontology is to provide its students with opportunities and the expectation to be active learners fully engaged in exploring our most important societal issues, including social justice, aging, and criminology. Our commitment to these goals serves to promote life-long learning, a richer understanding of the social world, and a realization of the activist potential of our disciplines.